Count table maintenance apparatus for maintaining count table during processing of frame and related count table maintenance method

ABSTRACT

A count table maintenance apparatus for maintaining a count table referenced to apply a backward adaptation to a probability table. The count table maintenance apparatus includes a count data access interface, at least one buffer, and at least one count data updating circuit. The count data access interface determines a read address and a write address of the storage apparatus. The at least one buffer buffers at least one input count data, wherein the at least one input count data is derived from count data read from the count table according to the read address. The at least one count data updating circuit updates the at least one input count data read from the at least one buffer to generate at least one updated count data, and store the at least one updated count data into the storage apparatus according to the write address.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.62/000,174 (filed on May 19, 2014) and U.S. provisional application No.62/091,082 (filed on Dec. 12, 2014). The whole contents of the relatedapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to video encoding/decoding, and moreparticularly, to a count table maintenance apparatus for maintaining(e.g., dynamically updating) a count table in a storage apparatus duringprocessing of a frame and a related count table maintenance method.

The conventional video coding standards generally adopt a block basedcoding technique to exploit spatial and temporal redundancy. Forexample, the basic approach is to divide the whole source frame into aplurality of blocks, perform intra prediction/inter prediction on eachblock, transform residues of each block, and perform quantization andentropy encoding. Besides, a reconstructed frame is generated in acoding loop to provide reference pixel data used for coding followingblocks. For certain video coding standards, in-loop filter(s) may beused for enhancing the image quality of the reconstructed frame.

The video decoder is used to perform an inverse operation of a videoencoding operation performed by a video encoder. For example, an entropyencoder in the video encoder is used to generate an encoded bitstream,while an entropy decoder in the video decoder is used to decode theencoded bitstream. The arithmetic coding may be employed by the entropyencoder. Hence, the entropy encoder refers to a probability table toperform the entropy encoding, and the video decoder also refers to thesame probability table to perform the entropy decoding. Since the videocontent is inherently non-stationary in nature, adaptation of theprobability table to account for changing statistics is critical in eachof the video encoder and the video decoder.

SUMMARY

One of the objectives of the claimed invention is to provide a counttable maintenance apparatus for maintaining (e.g., dynamically updating)a count table in a storage apparatus during processing of a frame and arelated count table maintenance method.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an exemplary counttable maintenance apparatus for maintaining a count table in a storageapparatus during processing of a frame is disclosed, where the counttable is referenced to apply a backward adaptation to a probabilitytable. The count table maintenance apparatus includes a count dataaccess interface, at least one buffer, and at least one count dataupdating circuit. The count data access interface is arranged todetermine a read address and a write address of the storage apparatusfor accessing count data in the count table. The at least one buffer isarranged to buffer at least one input count data, wherein the at leastone input count data is derived from count data read from the counttable according to the read address. The at least one count dataupdating circuit is arranged to update the at least one input count dataread from the at least one buffer to generate at least one updated countdata, and store the at least one updated count data into the storageapparatus according to the write address.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an exemplarycount table maintenance method for maintaining a count table in astorage apparatus during processing of a frame is disclosed, where thecount table is referenced to apply a backward adaptation to aprobability table. The count table maintenance method includes:determining a read address and a write address of the storage apparatusfor accessing count data in the count table; buffering at least oneinput count data, wherein the at least one input count data is derivedfrom count data read from the count table according to the read address;and updating the at least one input count data to generate at least oneupdated count data, and storing the at least one updated count data intothe storage apparatus according to the write address.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an exemplarybackward adaptation apparatus is disclosed. The exemplary backwardadaptation apparatus includes a first storage apparatus, a count tablemaintenance apparatus, and a backward probability update circuit. Thefirst storage apparatus includes a first buffer and a second bufferallocated therein. The first buffer is arranged to store a firstprobability table involved in processing of a first frame. The secondbuffer is arranged to store a second probability table selectable forprocessing of a second frame following the first frame. The count tablemaintenance apparatus is arranged to maintain a count table, wherein thecount table maintenance apparatus comprises at least one count dataupdating circuit shared for dynamically updating the count table duringthe processing of the first frame. The backward probability updatecircuit is arranged to refer to information of the count table andinformation of the first probability table to calculate the secondprobability table in the second buffer at an end of the processing ofthe first frame.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an entropy engine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a binary tree created for a set ofsymbols according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a count table update unitaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a first backward adaptationdesign according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a second backward adaptationdesign according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a third backward adaptationdesign according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an entropy processing methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims,which refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art willappreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a componentby different names. This document does not intend to distinguish betweencomponents that differ in name but not in function. In the followingdescription and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” areused in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean“include, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” isintended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection.Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connectionmay be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirectelectrical connection via other devices and connections.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an entropy engine according to anembodiment of the present invention. The entropy engine 100 may beimplemented in a video encoder for entropy encoding, or may beimplemented in a video decoder for entropy decoding. VP9 is an open androyalty-free video coding standard being developed by Google®. Forclarity and simplicity, it is assumed that the entropy engine 100 isarranged to perform entropy encoding/decoding compliant with a VP9coding standard. However, this is for illustrative purposes only, and isnot meant to be a limitation of the present invention. Any videoencoder/decoder using the entropy engine 100 (particularly, a proposedcount table update unit) falls within the scope of the presentinvention. The proposed count table update unit serves as a count tablemaintenance apparatus for maintaining (e.g., dynamically updating) acount table that will be used by backward adaptation of a probabilitytable at the end of encoding/decoding one frame. Further details of theproposed count table update unit are described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the entropy engine 100 includes circuits, such as amode processing unit 102, a motion vector difference (MVD) processingunit 104, a token processing unit 106, a probability table update unit108, a neighbor data update unit 110, a neighbor data storage apparatus112, a probability table access unit 114, a probability table storageapparatus 116, a count table update unit 118, a count table storageapparatus 120, a plurality of direct memory access (DMA) units 122, 124,an external storage apparatus 126, and a backward probability updateunit 128. In this embodiment, the external storage apparatus 126 may beimplemented using an off-chip memory such as a dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM), and each of the neighbor data storage apparatus 112, theprobability table storage apparatus 116, and the count table storageapparatus 120 may be implemented using an on-chip (internal) memory suchas a static random access memory (SRAM). Alternatively, the externalstorage apparatus 126 may be implemented using an off-chip memory suchas a DRAM, and at least one of the neighbor data storage apparatus 112,the probability table storage apparatus 116, and the count table storageapparatus 120 may be implemented using a buffer allocated in theexternal storage apparatus (e.g., DRAM) 126.

The probability table storage apparatus 116 is used to store aprobability table that is used for syntax encoding/decoding. Theneighbor data storage apparatus 112 is used to store information ofupper neighbor blocks that is referenced for probability model selectionin the probability table. The count table storage apparatus 120 is usedto store a count table that records actual counts for each symbol, wherethe count table composed of count data of various symbols in a currentframe is referenced for backward adaptation of the probability table.The external storage apparatus 126 is used to store data needed bycircuit element (s) in the entropy engine 100. For example, the DMA unit122 may transmit the count table maintained by the count table updateunit 118 and stored in an internal storage apparatus (e.g., count tablestorage apparatus 120) to the external storage apparatus 126. Foranother example, the DMA unit 124 may transmit the probability tablecalculated by the backward probability update unit 128 and stored in theexternal storage apparatus 126 to an internal storage apparatus (e.g.,probability table storage apparatus 116). The external storage apparatus126 may have a working buffer allocated therein, such that the backwardprobability update unit 128 may use the working buffer to compute a newprobability table (i.e., an updated probability table) based on an oldprobability table (i.e., a current probability table) and a count table.Alternatively, the backward probability update unit 128 may read theneeded count table from the count table storage apparatus 120 directly,and/or write the new probability table to the probability table storageapparatus 116 directly. Hence, one or both of the DMA units 122 and 124may be omitted in certain alternative designs.

The probability table access unit 114 is an interface module used toaccess the probability table stored in the probability table storageapparatus 116. The neighbor data update unit 110 is used to performneighbor data selection according to the syntax type and some decodedsyntax elements of a current block. The probability table update unit108 is used to refer to the neighbor information provided by theneighbor data update unit 110 to perform probability model selection fordetermining a probability model used by syntax entropy encoding/decodingsuch as mode processing, MVD processing, and token processing. The modeprocessing unit 102 is used to encode/decode the mode-related syntaxelements. The MVD processing unit 104 is used to encode/decode themotion vector difference. The token processing unit 106 is used toperform coefficient encoding/decoding to thereby encode/decode tokens,such as single numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}, number ranges {5-6, 7-10, 11-8,19-34, 35-66, 67+}, and End of Block (EOB). The count table update unit118 is used to read count data from the count table recorded in thecount table storage apparatus 120, update the count data according tothe syntax encoding/decoding performed by the mode processing unit 102,the MVD processing unit 104, and the token processing unit 106, andwrite updated count data into the count table recorded in the counttable storage apparatus 120. The count table maintained in the counttable storage apparatus 120 is a collection of count data of varioussymbols in a frame. Hence, the count table update unit 118 is used toperform a read-modify-write operation to dynamically update the counttable during encoding/decoding of the frame. The backward probabilityupdate unit 128 may be a hardware-based element (e.g., pure hardwarededicated to performing backward probability updating) or asoftware-based element (e.g., a general-purpose processor that executesa program code to perform backward probability updating), and is used togenerate a new probability table (i.e., an updated probability table)according to side information (e.g., syntax types and symbol values), anold probability table (i.e., a current probability table) and a counttable.

Except for very few header bits that are encoded directly as raw values,the majority of compressed VP9 data values are encoded using a booleanarithmetic encoder acting as the underlying binary arithmetic encoder.Generally speaking, given a symbol from any n-ary alphabet, a staticbinary tree is constructed with (n−1) non-leaf nodes (or called parentnodes) and (n) leaf nodes, and the binary arithmetic encoder operates oneach non-leaf node as the tree is traversed to encode a particularsymbol. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a binary tree created for a setof symbols according to an embodiment of the present invention. In thisexample, there are 4 non-leaf nodes NP_0, NP_1, NP_2, NP_3 representedby circles, and 5 leaf nodes NL_0, NL_1, NL_2, NL_3, NL_4 represented bysquares. Any symbol in the alphabet can be represented by a series ofbinary values generated by traversing the binary tree from the root nodeNP_0 to a corresponding leaf node. Each non-leaf node in the binary treehas a probability (e.g., P₀, P₁/P₂, P₃) assigned on the basis of thelikelihood of taking the left (0) branch for traversing. The set ofprobabilities P₀-P₃ for encoding possible symbols of a specific syntaxis referred to as an entropy coding context (or called probabilitymodel) of the specific syntax. The video content is inherentlynon-stationary in nature and a critical element of any videoencoder/decoder is the mechanism used to track the statistics of varioussymbols and update the entropy coding contexts (probability models) ofsymbols in the probability table to match the actual distribution of thesymbols. For example, backward adaptation may be employed to updateentropy coding contexts (probability models) at the end ofencoding/decoding each frame. In other words, once all symbols in aframe have been processed (e.g., encoded or decoded), a backwardadaptation step is conducted to further update the probabilities for usein the next frame according to actual counts for each symbol in theframe. Based on these actual counts, probabilities of various non-leafnodes in a corresponding binary tree can be obtained. Take the binarytree shown in FIG. 2 as an example. For each of the non-leaf nodesNP_0-NP_3, one count data is generated to indicate the number ofoccurrence times of 0's, and the other count data is generated toindicate the number of occurrence times of 1's. Hence, based on countdata of all non-leaf nodes NP_0-NP_3, new values of the set ofprobabilities P₀-P₃ can be obtained and then used by the backwardadaptation step to set updated values of the set of probabilities P₀-P₃that may be selected for encoding/decoding the next frame.

In this embodiment, the count table update unit 118 serves as a counttable maintenance apparatus for maintaining (e.g., dynamically updating)a count table in the count table storage apparatus 120 during processing(e.g., encoding or decoding) of a frame, where the count table isreferenced to apply a backward adaptation to a probability table. FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating a count table update unit according toan embodiment of the present invention. The count table update unit 118shown in FIG. 1 may be implemented using the count table update unit 300shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the count table update unit 300includes a count data access interface 302, at least one buffer 304, atleast one count data updating circuit (e.g., at least one adder denotedas “Adder [n]”) 306, a count data queuing circuit 308, and a pluralityof multiplexers 310_1, 310_2. It should be noted that, based on theactual design consideration, the number of buffers 304 may be equal toone or may be larger than one, and/or the number of count data updatingcircuits (e.g., adders) may be equal to one or may be larger than one.As mentioned above, the count table storage apparatus 120 is used tostore a count table composed of count data of symbols of various syntaxtypes in one frame. For example, the count table storage apparatus 120may be an internal SRAM, and each storage entry may store multiple countdata (e.g., count data×4).

The count data access interface 302 is an interface module arranged toaccess (read and write) the count table in the count table storageapparatus 120. For example, the count data access interface 302determine a read address sram_raddr and a write address sram waddr ofthe count table storage apparatus 120 for accessing count data in thecount table. In this embodiment, the count data access interface 302includes an address generator 312, an address queuing circuit 314, anaddress comparator 316, and a conflict checking circuit 318. The addressgenerator 312 is used to employ an address derivation algorithm togenerate a count data access address setting addr_in, including the readaddress sram_raddr and the write address sram_waddr, according to sideinformation count_data_side_info (which may indicate the syntax type andother reference information), a control signal count_data_req (which maytrigger the count data access), and the bin/symbol result (which may begenerated by the entropy engine 100 shown in FIG. 1). For example, theaddress derivation algorithm employed by the address generator 312 mayderive one or both of read address and write address from a decoded binvalue (or a decoded symbol value) and the decoded syntax type. Foranother example, the address derivation algorithm employed by theaddress generator 312 may further refer to other side information, suchas one or more of a picture type, a reference type, a transform size, acoefficient band, etc. The address queuing circuit 314 is used to queueprevious count data access addresses for pipelined count data updating.The address comparator 316 is used to check address equivalence in theaddress queuing circuit 314, and generate a comparison result cmp_resultto the multiplexer (MUX) 310_1, where the multiplexer 310_1 iscontrolled to select the previous count data queued in the count dataqueuing circuit 308 for pipelined count data updating, or select theupdated count data generated from the at least one count data updatingcircuit (denoted as “Adder [n]”) 306, or select the count datasram_rdata read from the count table storage apparatus 120. It should benoted that the address queuing circuit 314 and the count data queuingcircuit 308 may be optional. For example, the count data update unit 300may be modified to have no pipelined count data updating function.Hence, the address queuing circuit 314 and the count data queuingcircuit 308 may be omitted.

The conflict checking circuit 318 is used to check if the read accessand the write access are directed to the same address concurrently, andset the read access enable signal sram_rcs and the write access enablesignal sram_wcs according to a conflict checking result. When theread-write conflict is detected, the conflict checking circuit 318 setsthe write access enable signal sram_wcs to disable the write access, andsets the read access enable signal sram_rcs to enable the read access.However, when the read-write conflict is not detected, the conflictchecking circuit 318 sets the write access enable signal sram_wcs toenable the write access, and sets the read access enable signal sram_rcsto enable the read access.

The count data sram_rdata in the count table storage apparatus 120 isread from the read address sram_raddr and transmitted to the count tableupdate unit 300. In other words, the count table storage apparatus 120outputs at least one stored count data sram_rdata in response to theread address sram_raddr determined by the count table update unit 300.In this embodiment, the multiplexer 310_1 is used to select a targetcount data update source from a plurality of candidate count data updatesources, where the candidate count data update sources may include atleast one current count data (i.e., sram_rdata) read from the storageapparatus 120, at least one previous count data queued in the count dataqueuing circuit 308, and at least one previously updated count datagenerated by the at least one count data updating circuit 306.

The at least one buffer 304 is used to buffer at least one input countdata, wherein the at least one input count data buffered in the at leastone buffer 304 is derived from count data read from the count tableaccording to a read address. When the selected count data update sourceis the at least one current count data (i.e., sram_rdata) read from thestorage apparatus 120, the multiplexer 310_1 outputs the at least onecurrent count data (which is read from the count table according to acurrent read address) to the at least one buffer 304. When the selectedcount data update source is the at least one previous count data queuedin the count data queuing circuit 308, the multiplexer 310_1 outputs theat least one previous count data (which is read from the count tableaccording to a previous read address) to the at least one buffer 304.When the selected count data update source is the at least onepreviously updated count data, the multiplexer 310_1 outputs the atleast one previously updated count data (which is generated by the atleast one count data updating circuit 306 according to a previous countdata read from the count table according to a previous read address) tothe at least one buffer 304.

It should be noted that the number of candidate count data updatesources may be adjusted, depending upon actual design consideration. Ina first alternative design, the candidate count data update sources mayinclude at least one current count data (i.e., sram_rdata) read from thestorage apparatus 120 and at least one previous count data queued in thecount data queuing circuit 308. In a second alternative design, thecandidate count data update sources may include at least one currentcount data (i.e., sram_rdata) read from the storage apparatus 120 and atleast one previously updated count data generated by the at least onecount data updating circuit 306. In a third alternative design, thecandidate count data update sources may include at least one previouscount data queued in the count data queuing circuit 308 and at least onepreviously updated count data generated by the at least one count dataupdating circuit 306.

In a case where the number of buffers 304 is larger than the number ofcount data updating circuits (e.g., adders) 306, the multiplexer 310_2is implemented to select which buffered count data is output to the atleast one count data updating circuit 306. In this embodiment, themultiplexer 310_2 is controlled by the count data access interface 302,and each count data updating circuit 306 is implemented using an adder.Hence, the adder may add an increment value (e.g., 1) to one bufferedcount data for generating one updated count data. To put it simply, theat least one count data updating circuit 306 is used to update the atleast one input count data read from the at least one buffer 304 tothereby generate at least one updated count data, and store the at leastone updated count data sram_wdata into the count table storage apparatus120 according to the write address sram_waddr set by the count dataaccess interface 302.

In another case where the number of buffers 304 is equal to the numberof count data updating circuits (e.g., adders) 306, the multiplexer310_2 maybe omitted. For example, the count table update unit 300 may beconfigured to have only a single buffer 304 used to buffer a singleinput count data, and further have only a single count data updatingcircuit (e.g., a single adder) 306 used to update the single input countdata. For another example, the count table update unit 300 may beconfigured to have a plurality of buffers 304 used to buffer a pluralityof input count data, and further have a plurality of count data updatingcircuits (e.g., a plurality of adders) 306 used to update the pluralityof input count data, respectively.

During encoding/decoding of one frame, the proposed count table updateunit 300 writes updated count data of each symbol into the count tablestorage apparatus 120, and reads stored count data of each symbol fromthe count table storage apparatus 120. The count data of differentsymbols may be set by initial values (e.g., 0) at the beginning ofencoding/decoding a frame. In this embodiment, the count data updateunit 300 performs a read-modify-write operation to dynamically updatecount data in the count table. Specifically, the at least one count dataupdating circuit 306 is shared for updating count data of differentsymbols during encoding/decoding of the frame. Hence, the number of theat least one count data updating circuit 306 is smaller than the numberof count data recorded in the count table for different symbols in theframe.

The backward adaptation of the probability table is performed at the endof encoding/decoding a frame to calculate a new probability table (i.e.,an updated probability table) based on an old probability table (e.g., acurrent probability table) and a count table. Several backwardadaptation designs for updating the probability table are given asbelow.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a first backward adaptationdesign according to an embodiment of the present invention. The counttable Count_table maintained in the count table storage apparatus 120(which may be an on-chip SRAM) is transmitted to a buffer 401 allocatedin the external storage apparatus 126 (which may be an off-chip DRAM)through the DMA unit 122. An old probability table Prob_table_old isstored in a buffer 402 allocated in the external storage apparatus 126.The old probability table Prob_table_old may be loaded into theprobability table storage apparatus 116 through the DMA unit 124 for usein the previous frame encoding/decoding. At the end of encoding/decodingthe previous frame, the backward probability update unit 128 readsinformation of the count table Count_table in the buffer 401 andinformation of the old probability table Prob_table_old in the buffer402, and refers to the information of the count table Count_table andthe old probability table Prob_table_old to calculate a new probabilitytable Prob_table_new for use in the current frame encoding/decoding. Theexternal storage apparatus 126 further has a buffer 403 allocatedtherein for acting as a working buffer needed by the backwardprobability update unit 128 to store intermediate computation resultsand final computation results of the new probability tableProb_table_new.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a second backward adaptationdesign according to an embodiment of the present invention. The majordifference between the backward adaptation designs in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5is that the backward probability update unit 128 of the backwardadaptation design in FIG. 5 reads information of the count tableCount_table from the count table storage apparatus 120 (which may be anon-chip SRAM) directly.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a third backward adaptationdesign according to an embodiment of the present invention. The majordifference between the backward adaptation designs in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6is that the aforementioned count table storage apparatus 120 may beimplemented using a buffer 601 allocated in the external storageapparatus 126 (which may be an off-chip DRAM). That is, the count tablestorage apparatus 120 is part of the external storage apparatus 126.Hence, in this embodiment, the DMA unit 122 can be omitted, and thecount table update unit 118 is arranged to access the external storageapparatus 126 for maintaining a count table needed by backward adaptionof the probability table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an entropy processing methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Provided that theresult is substantially the same, the steps are not required to beexecuted in the exact order shown in FIG. 7. The entropy processingmethod may be employed by the entropy engine 100 shown in FIG. 1, andmay be briefly summarized as below.

Step 702: Perform syntax bool encoding/decoding.

Step 704: According to count data side information and bin/symbolresult, read related count data from a count table storage apparatus.

Step 706: Update the count data.

Step 708: Write the updated count data into the count table storageapparatus.

Step 710: Check if all symbols in a current frame are encoded/decoded.If yes, go to step 712; otherwise, go to step 702 to process the nextsymbol.

Step 712: Calculate a new probability table (i.e., an updatedprobability table which may be selected for encoding/decoding the nextframe) according to side information, an old probability table (i.e., acurrent probability table that is used for encoding/decoding the currentframe), and a count table maintained in the count table storageapparatus.

Step 714: Store the new probability table (i.e., updated probabilitytable) into a probability table storage apparatus.

Steps 702 may be performed by one of the mode processing unit 102, theMVD processing unit 104, and the token processing unit 106. Steps704-708 may be performed by the count table update unit 118/300. Theproposed count table maintenance method (steps 704-708) is part of avideo encoding procedure when employed at the video encoder side, or ispart of a video decoding procedure when employed at the video decoderside. Steps 710-714 may be performed by the backward probability updateunit 128. As a person skilled in the art can readily understand detailsof each step shown in FIG. 7 after reading above paragraphs, furtherdescription is omitted here for brevity.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A count table maintenance apparatus formaintaining a count table in a storage apparatus during processing of aframe, the count table maintenance apparatus comprising: a count dataaccess interface, arranged to determine a read address and a writeaddress of the storage apparatus for accessing count data in the counttable, wherein the count table is referenced to apply a backwardadaptation to a probability table; at least one buffer, arranged tobuffer at least one input count data, wherein the at least one inputcount data is derived from count data read from the count tableaccording to the read address; and at least one count data updatingcircuit, arranged to update the at least one input count data read fromthe at least one buffer to generate at least one updated count data, andstore the at least one updated count data into the storage apparatusaccording to the write address.
 2. The count table maintenance apparatusof claim 1, wherein a number of the at least one count data updatingcircuit is smaller than a number of count data recorded in the counttable for different symbols in the frame.
 3. The count table maintenanceapparatus of claim 1, wherein the count table maintenance apparatus hasa plurality of buffers arranged to buffer a plurality of input countdata, respectively.
 4. The count table maintenance apparatus of claim 3,wherein the count table maintenance apparatus has a plurality of countdata updating circuits arranged to update the plurality of input countdata, respectively.
 5. The count table maintenance apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: a count data queuing circuit, arrange to queue atleast one previous count data; and a multiplexer, arranged to receive atleast one current count data read from the storage apparatus and the atleast one previous count data queued in the count data queuing circuit,and output the at least one current count data or the at least oneprevious count data to act as the at least one input count data.
 6. Thecount table maintenance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: amultiplexer, arranged to receive at least one previously updated countdata generated by the at least one count data updating circuit and atleast one current count data read from the storage apparatus, and outputthe at least one current count data or the at least one previouslyupdated count data to act as the at least one input count data.
 7. Thecount table maintenance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: acount data queuing circuit, arrange to queue at least one previous countdata; and a multiplexer, arranged to receive at least one previouslyupdated count data generated by the at least one count data updatingcircuit and the at least one previous count data queued in the countdata queuing circuit, and output the at least one previous count data orthe at least one previously updated count data to act as the at leastone input count data.
 8. The count table maintenance apparatus of claim1, wherein the count table maintenance apparatus is part of a videodecoder.
 9. The count table maintenance apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe count table maintenance apparatus is part of a video encoder. 10.The count table maintenance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backwardadaptation complies with a VP9 coding standard.
 11. The count tablemaintenance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the count data accessinterface determines at least one of the read address and the writeaddress according to a syntax type and one of a bin result and a symbolresult.
 12. A count table maintenance method for maintaining a counttable in a storage apparatus during processing of a frame, the counttable maintenance method comprising: determining a read address and awrite address of the storage apparatus for accessing count data in thecount table, wherein the count table is referenced to apply a backwardadaptation to a probability table; buffering at least one input countdata, wherein the at least one input count data is derived from countdata read from the count table according to the read address; andupdating the at least one input count data to generate at least oneupdated count data, and storing the at least one updated count data intothe storage apparatus according to the write address.
 13. The counttable maintenance method of claim 12, wherein updating the at least oneinput count data comprises: utilizing at least one count data updatingcircuit for updating the at least one input count data to generate atleast one updated count data, wherein a number of the at least one countdata updating circuit is smaller than a number of count data recorded inthe count table for different symbols in the frame.
 14. The count tablemaintenance method of claim 12, wherein buffering the at least one inputcount data comprises: utilizing a plurality of buffers arranged tobuffer a plurality of input count data, respectively.
 15. The counttable maintenance method of claim 14, wherein updating the at least oneinput count data comprises: utilizing a plurality of count data updatingcircuits for updating the plurality of input count data, respectively.16. The count table maintenance method of claim 12, further comprising:queuing at least one previous count data; and performing a multiplexingoperation upon at least one current count data read from the storageapparatus and the at least one previous count data for outputting the atleast one current count data or the at least one previous count data toact as the at least one input count data.
 17. The count tablemaintenance method of claim 12, further comprising: performing amultiplexing operation upon at least one current count data read fromthe storage apparatus and at least one previously updated count data foroutputting the at least one current count data or the at least onepreviously updated count data to act as the at least one input countdata.
 18. The count table maintenance method of claim 12, furthercomprising: queuing at least one previous count data; and performing amultiplexing operation upon at least one previously updated count dataand the at least one previous count data for outputting the at least oneprevious count data or the at least one previously updated count data toact as the at least one input count data.
 19. The count tablemaintenance method of claim 12, wherein the count table maintenancemethod is part of a video decoding procedure.
 20. The count tablemaintenance method of claim 12, wherein the count table maintenancemethod is part of a video encoding procedure.
 21. The count tablemaintenance method of claim 12, wherein the backward adaptation complieswith a VP9 coding standard.
 22. The count table maintenance method ofclaim 12, wherein determining the read address and the write address ofthe storage apparatus comprises: determining at least one of the readaddress and the write address according to a syntax type and one of abin result and a symbol result.
 23. A backward adaptation apparatuscomprising: a first storage apparatus, comprising: a first buffer,allocated in the first storage apparatus and arranged to store a firstprobability table involved in processing of a first frame; and a secondbuffer, allocated in the first storage apparatus and arranged to store asecond probability table selectable for processing of a second framefollowing the first frame; a count table maintenance apparatus, arrangedto maintain a count table, wherein the count table maintenance apparatuscomprises at least one count data updating circuit shared fordynamically updating the count table during the processing of the firstframe; and a backward probability update circuit, arranged to refer toinformation of the count table and information of the first probabilitytable to calculate the second probability table in the second buffer atan end of the processing of the first frame.
 24. The backward adaptationapparatus of claim 23, wherein the first storage apparatus furthercomprises a third buffer allocated in the first storage apparatus; andthe backward adaptation apparatus further comprises: a second storageapparatus, external to the first storage apparatus and arranged to storethe count table maintained by the count table maintenance apparatus; anda direct memory access (DMA) circuit, arranged to transmit the counttable from the second storage apparatus to the third buffer, wherein thebackward probability update circuit obtains the information of the counttable from the third buffer.
 25. The backward adaptation apparatus ofclaim 23, further comprising: a second storage apparatus, external tothe first storage apparatus and arranged to store the count tablemaintained by the count table maintenance apparatus; wherein thebackward probability update circuit obtains the information of the counttable from the second storage apparatus directly.
 26. The backwardadaptation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first storage apparatusfurther comprises: a third buffer, allocated in the first storageapparatus and arranged to store the count table maintained by the counttable maintenance apparatus.